PlayStation 5 Slim optical drive requires internet

Sony will begin selling redesigned, smaller models of the PlayStation 5 this month, including a new external Ultra HD Blu-Ray Disc drive that can connect to the digital version of the PS5 to allow digital gamers to migrate to physical discs later. But it seems that those who decide to go with a Blu-ray drive later will need an internet connection to connect the console and the drive.

Website Charlie Intel posted images of the Call of Duty Modern Warfare III bundle with a refurbished PS5 on the social network X (formerly Twitter), and readers noticed that the fine print on the box said: “Connecting the drive and PS5 console requires an internet connection at setup connection.” This is a very unusual condition for disk media, which is popular mainly because users are not dependent on patchy servers and developer whims for physical copies.

Some X Network users equate this move with adding DRM protection to an optical drive. Users are mainly concerned about the future. If Sony decides to discontinue the servers that support this disc drive and the PS5 in a few years, users could be left without access to their physical copies.

In all likelihood, Sony decided to do this to prevent piracy and copyright abuse. By forcing an Internet connection and communication with Sony's servers, the company aims to prevent pirates from bypassing this protection with third-party drives or custom drives.

Of course, pirates are rarely stopped by this kind of linking, but repair can suffer. You will probably need to connect the drive to the Internet only once, namely the first time you use it. However, it is not yet clear whether Sony will ever remove this requirement. Maybe with the next generation of consoles.

The new PlayStation 5, which some call the PS5 Slim, will be on the shelves in November. The existing one will remain on sale until stocks last.

Among other things, Sony is increasing the storage space on the PS5 from an 825GB SSD to 1TB. The PS5 with disc drive will cost 549.99 euros, while the digital version will cost 449.99 euros (which is a good 50 euros more than the existing model). Those who want to add a disc drive to the digital version later will pay 120 euros for the addition.